STONEY who earns £75,000 a year stood to lose his licence for using his mobile whilst driving.

A PRISON governor begged a court not to ban him from driving – because he said he could not afford to take taxis to work.

Michael Stoney, who earns £75,000 a year, stood to lose his licence for using his mobile phone at the wheel.

But he asked to be allowed to keep on driving so he could make the hour-long commute to work.

When questioned about why he couldn’t use taxis, he replied: “I dont think I’d be able to afford it. I know it’s not feasible.”

Stoney,
of Dunblane, Perthshire, also told Motherwell Justice of the Peace Court that commuting by bus to work at Low Moss prison near Bishopbriggs would mean a five-hour round trip.

Despite Stoney’s pleas, Justice of the Peace John Thomson banned him from the road for six months.

The court heard that the prison boss was caught using his phone while driving his Vauxhall Astra in Viewpark, Lanarkshire, last May.

He already had penalty points on his licence and the offence made him liable for a ban under the totting up procedure.

The
court heard that Stoney, 44, earned more than £4000 a month after tax and gave £1000 of that to his estranged wife and children.

Asked
what his disposable income was, he said: “I have honestly no idea. It never feels like I have got very much. I know it sounds ridiculous on those wages. My mortgage is over £1000 a month and I have fuel bills for
oil and council tax.”

The court heard that Stoney, who earlier pleaded guilty by letter, could be sacked as a result of his conviction. He was also fined £90.